Cloth-piler.



' A. RATHER. CLOTH PILEB.

APPLICATION Hum MAB. 5, 190a.

Patented June 1, 1909.

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A. RATHER.

. 0mm PILER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 5, 1908 923,577. Patented June 1,1909.

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f mficew ATTORNEYS 4 THE uomns PTSRS cm, WASHINGTON, a. c

A. RATNER. CLOTH PILER.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 5, 1808.

ATTORNEYS A. RATNER.

CLOTH FILER.

APPLIOATYION FILED MAB. 5, 190a.

Patented June 1, 1909.

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WITNESSES rirz nomus PYETERS'COH wuumaww. o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFFllClE.

AARON RATNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLOTH-FILER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON RATNER, citizen of the United States, residingat New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in ClothPilers; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in machinesfor stretching or forming layers of fabric upon cutting tables such asare used by manufacturers of underwear and the like; and, the inventionhas reference, more particularly, to a novel machine or apparatus bymeans of which the bolts or rolls of fabric are carried on a truck orcarrier, which is adapted to travel back and forth, from one end of thecutting table to the other, and automatically spreads the fabric inlayers, one above the other, upon the said cutting table, and alsoautomatically clamps the same at each end thereof, thus saving the timeand labor consumed in stretching the fabric upon the usually longcutting tables by hand, as is ordinarily the practice preparatory tocutting garments, underwear, and many other similar articles.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal objects toprovide a novel simple and cheaply constructed apparatus of the generalcharacter hereinafter set forth, in which the various parts of themechanism, while automatic and effective in their operations, have beenreduced to a minimum; and, by means of which the layers of fabric may bequickly, evenly and smoothly stretched and clamped one above the other,ready for cutting.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clamping meansat each end of the cutting table which will firmly and se curely retainthe ends of the layers of fabric deposited thereon, and thus keep thesaid layers of fabric smooth and unwrinkled or creased; and,furthermore, to provide a clamp which is automatically operated bycontact with the traveling truck or carrier.

Other objects of this invention not at this Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed March 5, 1908.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Serial No. 419,268.

time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from thefollowing de tailed description of the same.

With these various objects of the present invention in view, the saidinvention consists, primarily, in the novel machine for stretching orforming layers of fabric 011 a cutting table hereinafter more fully setforth; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the novelarrangements and combinations of devices and parts, as well as in thedetails of the construction of the same, all of which will behereinafter more fully described, and then finally embodied in theclauses of the claims which are appended to and which form an essentialpart of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cutting table equipped with thenovel machine or aparatus for stretching or forming thereon the ayers offabric to be cut, the said machine embodying the principles of thepresent invention. Fig. 2 is a top or lan view of the same. Fig. 3 is avertical ongitudinal section of the traveling truck or carrier, as it isap roaching a clamping device and automatica 1y operating the same as itis about to deposit one end of the fabric layer thereunder. Fig. 4 is asimilar view, the upper portion of the truck being broken away, thisview being designed to illustrate the truck as it is leaving theclamping device and also showing the operation of changing thespreader-blades to be hereinafter more fully described, the clampframebeing illustrated in dotted outline to more clearly show the levers anddevices upon the truck. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing theoperations therein illustrated, still further advanced. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal vertical section of the traveling truck or carrier, as itmoves away from the clamping device and after the spreaderblades havebeen reversed or changed in the manner to be subsequently more fullydescribed.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the abovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, thereference-character 1 indicates a cutting table. Mounted upon the saidoutting-table and adapted to travel back and forth thereon is a truck orcarrier, comprising a frame-work 2 which is provided with suit ablydisposedflangedwheels 3 adapted to engage with the side edges of thesaid cutting table 1. Secured in any suitable manner to the frame work 2of the truck or carrier is a platform 4 upon which is carried the boltsor rolls of cloth or other fabric 5 which is to be spread or stretchedupon the said cutting table 1. I

Extending upwardly from the frame-work 2 are corner posts 6, and mountedupon these corner-posts 6, so as to extend laterally across each end ofthe truck or carrier, are guide-rods or rollers 7, over which the fabric5 is carried. A similar guide-rod or roller 8 is mounted at one end ofthe truck or carrier in the frame-work 2 thereof, said rod or rolleralso extending laterally across the truck or carrier. In like manner,another guide-rod or roller 9 is mounted on the frame-work 2 of thetruck or carrier beneath the platform 4 and midway between the ends ofthe said truck or carrier. The fabric 5 is carried over these severalguide-rods or rollers, substantially in the manner illustrated. Each ofthese said guide-rods or rollers is provided with a pair of adjustablegage-collars 10, which serve to guide and keep the fabric 5 in alinementwith the cutting table while the cloth or fabric is being spread orstretched thereon.

Secured to each side of the framework 2, and upon the inner surfacesthereof, are a pair of guide-bars 11. Slidably arranged upon one pair ofoppositely placed guide-bars 11 are a pair of spreader-brackets 12, tothe bottoms of which are secured, in any suitable manner, aspreader-blade 13 which extends laterally across the interior of thetruck or carrier. This spreader-blade 13 is provided at one edge with anu wardly curved-portion 14. A shaft 15 is also mounted, in such amanner, that it extends laterally across the interior of the truck orcarrier, and is capable of oscillatory movements between the two sidesof the frame-work 2.

Secured to this shaft 15, in any suitable manner, near each inner sideof the truck or carrier is a sleeve 16, and rigidly secured to saidsleeves are arms 17. Secured to andconnected with the free ends of saidarms are suitable links 18, which are made collapsible, so that thespreader-blade 13 may adjust itself to the varying heights of the layersof cloth or fabric 5, as they increase while being spread or stretchedupon the cutting-table. Also rigidly secured to one of said sleeves 16is a downwardly extending lever arm 19, which is provided upon one sidewith a pair of guide-pins 20. Pivotally secured to the inner side of theframe-work 2 of the truck or carrier is a locking-lever 21 adapted toride between the guide pins 20 of the lever 19, said locking lever 21being provided with a notched end 22, and having secured to the otherend thereof a trip-arm 23. When the spreader-blade 13 is raised out ofoperative contact with the fabric 5, the notched end 22 of thelocking-lever 21 engages with the upper one of said two guide-pins 20 onthe lever arm 19, and thus locks the spreader-blade 13 in its raised orinoperative position.

Slidably arranged upon the other pair of oppositely placed guide-bars 11are a pair of spreader-brackets 24, to the bottoms of which are secured,in any suitable manner, a spreader-blade 25, which extends laterallyacross the interior of the truck or carrier. This spreader-blade 25 isprovided at one edge with an upwardly curved portion 26. An oscillatingshaft 27 is mounted, so as to extend laterally across the interior ofthe truck or carrier, on the frame-work 2. Secured to this shaft 27, inany suitable manner, near each inner side of the truck or carrier is asleeve 28, and rigidly secured to said sleeves are arms 29. Secured toand connected with the free ends of said arms are suitable links 30which are made to collapse. Rigidly secured to one of said sleeves is adownwardly extending lever arm 31, this lever arm 31 being provided uponone side with a pair of guide-pins 32. Pivctally secured to the innerside of the frame-work 2 of the truck or carrier is a locking-lever 33which is adapted to ride between the two guide-pins 32, said lockinglever 33 being provided with a notched end 34, and having secured to theother end thereof a trip arm 35.

The lever-arms 19 and 31 are connected together by means of a link orconnecting rod 36 which is pivotally secured to said arms.

The spreader bracket 24 is provided with a trip-iron or element, 37 and,in like manner the spreader-bracket 12 is provided with a similartrip-iron or element 38.

Extending laterally across each end of the truck or carrier is acontact-bar 39, the purpose of which will be subsequently described.

The clamping devices located at each end of the cutting table 1 areexactly alike, and each device comprises a frame-work 40 provided withforwardly extending side-members 41, said side-members being providedwith inwardly extending ribs or guides 42, which engage with the notchedor grooved ends of a clamp-iron 43, so that the same will slide up anddown on the said frame-work. Mounted in the said frame-work 40 is ashaft 44, provided near each end with a pulley wheel or drum rigidlysecured thereto, and

secured to the said pulleys or drums 45 is an end of a strap or band 46.This strap or band 46 extends forwardly and rides over an idle pulley orwheel 47 mounted on the inner side of the forwardly extending members 41of the frame-work 40, and the free ends of the said straps or hands 46are secured to the opposite ends of the clam .i-iron 43. Upon said shaft44 is a friction c utch 48 which is provided with an upwardly extendingarm 49.

This clutch 48 may be of any well-known type, and is used to operate orrevolve the shaft 44 and the pulleys or drums 45, which in turn roll upthe straps or bands 46, and thus raise the clamp-iron 43. The clutch 48is used simply to provide a means for taking up the slack of the strapsor bands 46, as the clamping level of the clamp-irons 43 is raised bythe increasing layers of fabric 5 deposited thereunder.

The clamp-iron is provided at each end with an inwardly extendinggrooved lug 50, and slidably arranged between these grooved lugs 50, soas to move up and down therein, is a laterally extending pin-clamp 51provided with a plurality of clamping pins 52 which extend downwardlytherefrom. This pinclamp 51 is retained in its normal relation with theclamp-iron 43 so as to be raised with it, by means of a trigger-lever 53which is pivotally secured upon the top of the clamp-iron 43, and has aslightly chainfered end-member 53 normally forced beneath and in holdingengagement with the said pinclamp 51 by means of a suitable spring 54,as will be understood from an inspection of Fig. 2. This trigger-lever53 is provided at its free-end with an outwardly extending arm 55 whichprojects beyond the outer edge of the clamp-iron 43.

Secured upon the ends of the forwardly extending members 41 of theframe-work of the clamping device, is a curved or camshaped lug 56, thepurpose of said lug being to slightly raise the approachingspreaderblades 13 or 25, as the case may be, away from contact with thefabric 5 after the same has been inserted beneath the clamp-iron 43, sothat, when the said spreader-blade is with drawn it will not drag orwrinkle the fold of fabric before the clamp-iron 43 finally comes incontact therewith.

Located upon one side and near the end of the forwardly extending member41 of the frame-work 40 of the clamping device, is a pair ofcontact-pins 57, and farther back from these, in a proper location, isanother contact-pin 58. The functions of these contactpins will beclearly understood from the subsequent description of the operation ofthe machine.

Having thus described the construction and essential parts of the novelmachine embodying the principles of this invention, it now remains todescribe the operations thereof while performing the work of stretchingor spreading the cloth or fabric 5 upon the cutting-table 1.

Referring now, more particularly, to Fig. 3 of the drawings, there isillustrated therein the truck or carrier as it is approaching andbeginning to operate the clamping device after having spread a fold offabric upon the cutting-table.

The contact-bar 39 engages with the upwardly extending arm 49 of theclutch 48 pushing the same forward and thereby revolving the shaft 44,the pulleys or drums connected therewith and winding up the straps orbands 46 and thus raises the clampiron 43, which allows thespreader-blade 25 to move thereunder and deposit the end of the fold orlayer of fabrics. By the time the fabric 5 is thus disposed, thetrip-iron 37 comes in contact with the end-portion of the triggerlever53, whereby the triggerlever 53 is withdrawn from beneath the pinclamp51 which then drops down upon the fabric and holds the same while thetruck or carrier is started away from the clamping device and in theopposite direction; and, furthermore, holding the fabric until thespreader-blade 25 is withdrawn and the clamp-iron 43 drops back upon thesaid fabric. As soon as the trip-iron 37 is again withdrawn from itsengagement with the end-portion or shoe 55 of the trigger-lever 53, thespring 54 immediately again becomes active and forces the chamferedend-portion 53 of the pivoted lever 53 again beneath the pin-clamp 51,as will be clearly evident. Now, the truck or carrier, when it startsaway from the clamping device, must bring into operation thespreader-blade 13 and raise out of the way the spreader-blade 25 whichhas completed its work. Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of thedrawings, the manner of accomplishing this result will be clearlyevident.

As the truck or carrier begins to move away from the clamping device,the trip-arm 23 of the locking-lever 21, which is constructed to passover the contact-pins 57 and 58, as the truck or carrier moves towardthe clamping device, is brought in contact with the contact-pin 58 andis forced to trip over it and thereby kicks up the locking lever 21 andreleases the notched end 22 thereof from contact with the guide-pin 20of the leverarm 19. This lever-arm 19, when so released, is caused todrop slightly by the weight of the spreader-blade 13, and in so doingbrings its free end in a position to ongage with the upper one of thecontact-pins 57. As the truck or carrier continues to move on, thelever-arm 19 is held back, and thereby causes the shaft 15 and collar 16to revolve; and, in so doing, by means of the lever connected therewith,lowers the spreader-blade 13. At the same time, the lever-arm 31 beingconnected with the lever arm 19 by means of the link or connecting rod36, the same is caused to oscillate the shaft 27 and collar 28, and bymeans of the levers connected therewith, raises the spreader-blade 25into its inoperative position. The end of the lever-arm 19 is held untilit assumes the position shown in Fig. 6 and until the notched end 34 ofthe lockinglever 33 is brought in locked engagement with one of theguide-pins 32 of the leverarm 31, whereby the spreader-blades are lockedin the position illustrated in the drawings, the lever-arm 19 then slipsaway from contact with the contact-pin 58, and the truck or carrierproceeds to spread the fabric until the opposite clamping device isreached when the operations herein-above described are again repeated,only on the opposite end of the said truck or carrier, as will beclearly apparent.

One of the principal advantages of this de vice is that the clamp-iron43 is always raised one inch from the top-layer of the cloth or fabricno matter how high that cloth or fabric has been piled upon thecuttingtable. The clutch 48 being adapted to be so regulated on theshaft that the slack of the supporting bands 46 can be taken up fromtime to time as the fabric or cloth piles up upon the cutting table.Thus greater heights of cloth or fabric can be built up than with any ofthe old style machines. Furthermore the clamp-iron 43 always acting in aperpendicular line and at right angles to the layers of fabric or clothalways clutches or clamps the same firmly and in the same position,which is a great improvement over the swing clamps of old stylemachines.

Another improvement is in the operation of the spreader-blades whichalways ride upon the top layer of cloth and fabric spreading the samesmoothly, no matter how high the pile of fabric becomes, the collapsiblelinks by which they are supported making an automatic compensating orregulating means as the height of the fabric or cloth piled or spreadupon the cutting table increases.

I am aware that changes may be made in the various arrangements andcombinations of parts, as well as in the details of the construction ofthe same without departing from the scope of the present invention, asdefined in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention tothe exact arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, and as described in theaccompanying specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact detailsof the construction of the said parts.

I claim 1. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table,the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck movingback and forth upon said table, means carried by said truck forspreading the fabric in layers upon said table, and means at each end ofthe table for clamping the folded endportions of the spread fabric,comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending sidemembers providedwith guides, and a clampiron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch,a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from saidclutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought inengagement with said arm for 7 actuating said clutch, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

2. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck mov- 7 ingback and forth upon said table, means carried by said truck forspreading the fabric in layers upon said table, and means at each end ofthe table for clamping the folded endportions of the spread fabric,comprising 8 a framework having forwardly extending side-membersprovided with guides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides,

a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extendingfrom said clutch, S and means carried by said truck adapted to bebrought in engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drumsupon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and theclamp-iron for raising said iron, sub- 9 stantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, means 9 carried by said truck for spreadingthe fabric in layers upon said table, and means at each end of the tablefor clamping the folded endportions of the spread fabric, comprising aframe-work having forwardly extending side- 1 members provided withguides, and a clampiron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch, ashaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from saidclutch,

and means carried by said truck adapted to 1 be brought in engagementwith said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, andflexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raisingsaid iron, and means for dropping said clamp-iron down 1 upon the foldedportion of the fabric, sub stantial-ly as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck mov- 1 ingback and forth upon said table, means carried by said truck forspreading the fabric in layers upon said table, and means at each end ofthe table for clamping the folded endportions of the spread fabric,comprising a 1 frame-work having forwardly extending sidemembersprovided with guides, and a clampiron movably arranged in said guides, aclutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending fromsaid 1 clutch and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought intoengagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon saidshaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-ironfor 1 raising said iron, a trip-iron carried by the truck, a pin-clampconnected with said clamp iron, and a trigger-lever with which saidtripiron is brought into engagement, substan tially as and for thepurposes set forth.

5. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, laterally extending and vertically movablespreader-blades carried upon said truck, means at each end of the tablefor clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising aframe-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides,a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected witheach clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft uponwhich said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, andmeans carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement withsaid arm for actuating said clutch, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

6. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, laterally extending and vertically movablespreader-blades carried upon said truck, means at each end of the tablefor clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric,

comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side members providedwith guides, a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and meansconnected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, aclutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending fromsaid clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought intoengagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon saidshaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-ironfor raising said iron, substantially as and for the puposes set forth.

7. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, laterally extending and vertically movablespreader-blades carried upon said truck, means at each end of the tablefor clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising aframe-work having forwardly .extending side members provided withguides, a clam iron movably arranged in said guides, ant means connectedwith each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaftupon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch,and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagementwith said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, andflexible connections between said drums and the clampiron for raisingsaid iron, and means for dropping said clamp-iron down upon the foldedportion of the fabric, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a boltcarrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, laterally extending and vertically movablespreader-blades carried upon said truck, means at each end of the tablefor clamping the folded end-portions of the spread. fabric, comprising aframe-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides,a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected witheach clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft uponwhich said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, andmeans carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement withsaid arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexibleconnections between said drums and the clamp-irons for raising saidiron, a trip-iron carried by the truck, a pin-clamp connected with saidclamp-iron, and a trigger-lever with which said trip-iron is brought inengagement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting-table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said. table, spreader-blades carried upon said truck,oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a leverarm connected with andextending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extendingfrom each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, aconnecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from eachlever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, atrip-arm connected with each locking-lever, and means at each end of thetable for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting-table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, spreaderblades carried upon said truck,oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm con.- nected withand extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an armextending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with eacharm, a connecting rod. between said lever-arms, guide-pins extendingfrom each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair ofguide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each locking-lever, and means ateach end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spreadfabric,

l l O comprising a frame-work having forward extending side-membersprovided with guides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting-table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, spreaderblades carried upon said truck,oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with andextending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extendingfrom each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, aconnecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from eachlever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, atrip-arm connected with each locking-lever, and means at each end of thetable for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric,comprising a frame-work having forward extending side-members providedwith guides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch,a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from saidclutch, and means carried by said truck ada ted to be brought intoengagement with saic arm for actuating said clutch, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

12. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting-table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, spreaderblades carried upon said truck,oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with andextending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extendingfrom each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, aconnecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from eachlever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, atrip-arm connected with each locking-lever, and means at each end of thetable for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comrising a frame-work having forward extenc ing side-members provided withguides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch, ashaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from saidclutch, and means carried by said truck ada )ted to be brought intoengagement with saicf arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon saidshaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-ironfor raising said iron, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, spreaderblades carried upon said truck,oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with andextending from each shaft, a

sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and acollapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between saidlever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking leverriding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-arm connected with eachlocking-lever, and means at each end of the table for clamping thefolded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work havingforward extending side-members provided with guides, and a clamp-ironmovably arranged in said guides, a clutch, a shaft upon which saidclutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carriedsaid truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm foractuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connectionsbetween said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron, and meansfor dropping said clamp-iron down upon the folded portion of the fabric,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting-table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, spreaderblades carried upon said truck,oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with andextending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extendingfrom each. sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, aconnecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from eachlever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, atrip-arm connected with each lockingdever, an (1 means at each end ofthe table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric,comprising a frame-work having forward extending side-members providedwith guides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch,a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from saidclutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought intoengagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon saidshaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-ironfor raising said iron, a trip-iron carried by the truck, a pin-clampconnected with said clamp-iron, and a trigger-lever with which saidtrip-iron is brought into engagement, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

15. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, guidebars carried by said truck,spreadenblades moving vertically between said guide-bars, oscillatoryshafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extendingfrom each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from eachsleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rodbetween said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, alocking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-armconnected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table forclamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, and meansconnected with said clamping means for raising said spreader-blades,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

16. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, guidebars carried by said truck,spreader-blades moving vertically between said guide-bars, oscillatoryshafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extendingfrom each shaft, a sleeve u on each shaft, an arm extending from each seeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rodbetween said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, alocking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a triparmconnected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table forclamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising aframe-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides,a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected witheach clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

17. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, guide-bars carried by said truck,spreaderblades moving vertically between said guidebars, oscillatoryshafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extendingfrom each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from eachsleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rodbetween said leverarms, guidepins extending from each lever-arm, alocking lever riding between each pair of guidepins, a trip-armconnected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table forclamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising aframe-work having forwardly extending side-members provided with guides,a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected witheach clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft uponwhich said. clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, andmeans carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement withsaid arm for actuating said clutch, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

18. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, guidebars carried by said truck,spreader-blades moving vertically between said guide-bars, oscillatoryshafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extendingfrom each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from eachsleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rodbetween said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, alocking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a triparmconnected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table forclamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising aframe-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides,a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected witheach clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft uponwhich said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, andmeans carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement withsaid arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexibleconnections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

19. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, guidebars carried by said truck,spreader-blades moving vertically between said guide-bars, oscillatoryshafts carried by said truck, a le ver-arm connected with and extendingfrom each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from eachsleeve, and a collapsible link connected. with each arm, a connectingrod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, alocking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-armconnected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table forclamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising aframe-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides,a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected witheach clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft uponwhich said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, andmeans carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement withsaid arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexibleconnections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron,and means for dropping said clamp-iron down upon the folded portion ofthe fabric,

substantially, as and for the purposes set forth.

20. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, thecombination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving backand forth upon said table, guide- &

bars carried by said truck, spreader-blades moving vertically betweensaid guide-bars, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-armconnected With and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft,an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected witheach arm, a connecting rod between said lever arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair ofguide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each locking lever, means at eachend of the table for clamping the folded end-portions ol the spreadfabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side membersprovided with guides, a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, andmeans connected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, aclutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending fromsaid clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought intoengagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon saidshaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-ironfor raising said iron, a trip-iron carried by the truck, a pinclampconnected with said clamp-iron, and a trigger-lever with which saidtrip-iron is brought into engagement, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 26th day of February 1908.

AARON RATNER.

Vitnesses GEORGE D. RICHARDS, MAYBELLE McADoo.

